Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). There is no evidence that the regulated artificial
sweeteners on the market in the United States are related to cancer risk in
humans. As new sweetening products come on the market, the FDA continues to
investigate any possible short- or long-term health risks that these products
might create.

Questions about artificial sweeteners and cancer arose when early studies
showed that cyclamate, one of several types of artificial sweeteners, caused
bladder cancer in laboratory animals. However, results from research studies do
not provide clear evidence of an association between artificial sweeteners and
human cancer.

Because the findings in animals suggested that cyclamate might increase the
risk of bladder cancer in humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
banned the use of cyclamate in 1969. More recent animal studies have failed to
demonstrate that cyclamate is a carcinogen (a substance known to cause cancer)
or a co-carcinogen (a substance that enhances the effect of a cancer-causing
substance). However, other issues must be resolved before cyclamate can be
approved for commercial use as a food additive in the United States.